Great Meadows Conservation Trust Hosting Brisk Winter Walks Series

Large floes of ice pass by an old log along the bank of the Connecticut River in Wethersfield. (Peter Marteka)

Since its inception, the Great Meadows Conservation Trust’s “Brisk Winter Walks” series has taken place in a variety of conditions from warm, muddy, cold, snowy and just about everything in between.

In 2018, the trust celebrates its 50th anniversary and has again scheduled a variety of walks in East Hartford, Glastonbury, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield over the next eight weeks, beginning Monday.

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At least the first walk plans to live up to the name with temperatures expected to be in the teens on New Year’s Day for the walk along the Connecticut River in Wethersfield.

The 4:30 p.m. walk at Wethersfield Cove will feature a “supermoon” rising over the river and sunset over the cove. Hike leaders Jim Woodworth and Bike Walk Wethersfield’s Kevin Sullivan will greet participants at 200 Main St. in Old Wethersfield. From there, participants will walk to the cove, under I-91 to the river’s edge. Woodworth noted the area is “Wethersfield’s gateway to the river.”

“We'll bask in the moonlight reflecting on the river,” Woodworth said.

Other walks include:

Jan. 7 at 1 p.m., Wethersfield (90 minutes)

Meet at the trust’s Wood Parcel, 60 Middletown Ave. The hike will include a loop past an 18th-century house site. The hike will cross farm fields that once hosted the original “Pyquag” Native American summer camp.

Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m., Glastonbury (two hours)

Meet at the Connecticut Audubon Center at 1361 Main St. for a hike along the Connecticut River to Glastonbury Meadows.

Jan. 21 at 1 p.m., Glastonbury (90 minutes)

The walk will start at Glastonbury Town Hall, 2155 Main St. and participants will hike to the Glastonbury meadows.

Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., Wethersfield (two hours)

Meet at 412 Hartford Ave. on the corner of Jordan Lane for a short walk. A longer walk includes a visit to the Hartford dike that divides the Folly Brook nature area from the South Meadows Industrial Park.

Feb. 4 at 1 p.m., Rocky Hill (two hours)

Meet at 78 Goff Brook Lane off of Old Main Street for a hike to the Rocky Hill Meadows.

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Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. Wethersfield

Meet Woodworth and Goodwin College's Bruce Morton, program director of environmental studies, at the Putnam Park parking lot, 100 Great Meadow Road to explore the 300-acre Crow Point property owned by the college.

Feb. 17 at 10 a.m., East Hartford

Meet at Hockanum Park, 324 High St. to explore several parcels within the “Wethersfield Triangle.” The parcel of land is actually a piece of Wethersfield organizers point out was “marooned on the east side by the meandering of the river.” Walkers will explore the new trails that Goodwin College is constructing along the river from South Meadow Road to the Putnam Bridge. .